In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh sits down with Christine, a mom of four, to share her harrowing and powerful story of surviving a rare and life-threatening birth and postpartum experience.

After being induced at 37 weeks for hypertension, Christine’s delivery with her fourth son, Caden, started calmly, until everything changed. What followed was a series of medical emergencies including a cervical tear, uterine rupture, hemorrhage, and emergency exploratory surgery, followed by multiple re-hospitalizations and near-death experiences in the weeks after giving birth.

Christine opens up about the long physical and emotional recovery that followed, from memory loss and PTSD to regaining her strength through pelvic floor physical therapy, and how her desire to understand what happened to her body led to deep reflection on communication gaps in healthcare.

Together, Kayleigh and Christine explore:

💔 The trauma of experiencing multiple postpartum hemorrhages and emergency surgeries
🩺 What it feels like to face life-threatening complications after a “routine” delivery
🧠 The importance of follow-up conversations and debriefing with providers after trauma
💬 Why being denied that information can add to the pain and confusion of recovery
🌱 How physical therapy and mental health support played key roles in Christine’s healing
💜 The power of holding both grief and gratitude in motherhood

Christine’s story is one of survival, resilience, and advocacy — a reminder that postpartum complications are real, often misunderstood, and deserve to be met with compassion, information, and care.

Resources & Links

💜 Connect with Kayleigh: @thebirthtrauma_mama

🌐 Learn more at HoldingHopePerinatal.com

For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.